Delhi Air Quality Slips To “Very Poor”, Day After “Unusual Improvement”

People in the national capital woke up to a hazy morning today, as monitoring stations recorded air quality in the “very poor” category, a day after the city witnessed an ‘unusual improvement’ in the conditions, the officials said.

The overall air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 320 in the “very poor” category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Anand Vihar recorded “severe” air quality. The AQI in 23 areas was registered in the “very poor” category, while the situation was “poor” in 12 areas.

The level of PM2.5 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) was recorded at 179, and the PM10 level was recorded at 338.

In the NCR region, Ghaziabad recorded the worst air quality with an AQI of 398. Greater Noida and Noida’s air quality was registered in the “very poor” category. Faridabad and Gurgaon recorded moderate air quality, according to CPCB data.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.

According to the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR), Delhi’s air quality will remain in the “poor” category, amid a gradual increase in the pollution level, for the next two days.